Combined trunk and wardrobe



No. 623,913. Patented Apr. 25, |899. A. KHUUT V. RGUS. COMBINED TRUNK AND WARDRUBE.

(Applicatiun fu'ed Feb. 21, 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet I.

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COMBINED TRUNK AND WARDBBE.

(Application led Feb. 21, 1899.)

3 Sheets Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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(Application led Feb. 21, 1899.) (No Model.)

3 sheets-sheet 3.

a?? voas, fam @aga @Zoals l S (Ln CDWQQMQMK ALOIS KOHOUT AND VAOLAV ROUS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COMBINED TRUNK AND WARDROBE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 623,913, dated April 25, 1899. Application filed February 21, 1899. Serial No. 706,437. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,ALOIS KOHOUT and VACLAV ROUS, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Trunk and Wardrobe, of which the following is .a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to improvements in a combined trunk and wardrobe; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims.

The object of this invention is to construct a device that can be applied as a trunk and also extended to form a wardrobe.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of our invention when eX- tended, forming a wardrobe. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of our invention when applied as a trunk, taken on the line d a of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the same,taken on the line b b of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the extension-frame detached from the trunk. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the lid or upper portion of the extension-frame. Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of one of the parts of the eXtension-frame, taken on the line c cof Fig. 5. Fig. 8 isa detail view of a portion of the eX- tension-frame, showing the manner in which the operating mechanism is secured thereto. Fig. 9 is an enlarged 'detail view of the upper portion of the same. Fig: 10 is a vertical sectional view of the frame, taken on the line d CZ of Fig. 9, showing the operating mechanism. Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view of the lid or upper portion of the frame, showing its connection to the side of the trunk when extended as the wardrobe. Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the extension-frame, showing its locking mechani'sm in connection with the inner compartment of the trunk as used for extending the same. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a corner-bracket which is used in the lower portion of the inner compartment. Fig. 14 is a front elevation of the ring used to operate the locking mechanism in the lid of the extension-frame. Fig. l5 is a side View of the same. Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a por tion of the extension-frame with parts broken away, showing the spring that guides the chain located therein.

In the drawings, 1 indicates our complete invention, which consists of three compartments 2, 3, and 4 and are constructed to telescope one within the other, and each is provided with V-shaped stops 5, which engage with one another when the said trunk is eX- tended to its extreme height when desired to use the same as a wardrobe or cabinet.

In the bottom of the compartment 4 is a receptacle G, in which are hinged the two eX- tension-bars 7, which are each composed of two sections hinged at their centers, so as to allow the saine to fold that they may iind lodgment in the receptacle when the same is folded to use the device as a trunk.

To the upper ends of the extension-bars 7 is hinged a lid or cover S, which is provided with a suitable number of hooks, which are used in hanging up clothes when the device is used as a wardrobe, and the said lid is also provided with a locking mechanism 9, which is composed of a bar 10, pivotally secured at its center and provided with an angular slot 11, in which is adapted to be operated a key 12. To each end of this bar are secured rods 13, which communicate with bolts 14, which when extended iit into a socket 15, formed in the upper sides of the compartment 2.

The extension-bars 7 are provided in crosssection with grooves lo', (see Fig. 7,) in which operates an endless chain 17, which passes over a sprocket-wheel 18, located in the upper end of the extension-bars, and over a sprocket-wheel 19, located in the lower ends of the extension-bars, and its ends are secured to a sliding. block 20, which is located and adapted to operate in the groove 16 of the extension-bar. The sliding block 20 is provided with an arm or projection 21, which is designed to come in communication and fit into an opening 22, formed in the sides of the compartment 2.

Back of the sprocket-wheel 1S and located on the same shaft is a gear-wheel 23, its teeth meshing with the gear-wheel 24, formed in the lid or cover of the extension-frame. The wheel 24 is operated by a similar gear-wheel IOO 25, which is propelled by a shaft 2G, located in the under side of the lid or cover of the extension frame and is manipulated by a key 27.

Upon the compartment 2 is placed a tray 2S, which is provided at each side with loops 2),which communicate when in position with the openings 15 in the sides of the compartment 2, and through which also pass the bolts 1l, formed in the lid or cover of the extension-frame, thereby holding said tray firmly in position.

The tray 28 is provided with drawers 31. The center one is constructed to be moved from the tray 28 when it is desired to operate the locking mechanism in the lid or cover of the extension-f rame which manipulates the bolts 14.

When it is desired to transform the device into a trunk, the extension-frame is folded into the receptacle G and the upper side of the lid or cover will be flush or in alincment with the remaining base of the trunk. The compartments 2 and 3 when lowered take the position as shown in Figs. 3 and 1i, and the tray 28 is inverted and placed upon the compartment 2, which then acts as the upper tray used in ordinary trunks.

The compartments 2 and 3 are each provid ed with a door 32 and 33, which are suitably hinged thereto, which are only used when the device is extended to form a wardrobe.

The two sections of each extension-bar are hinged at theirl centers and locked by means of a latch or lock 34, which are designed to support said bars when in a vertical position, in order that the sprocket-chain 17 may be free to operate in the groove 16. In the groove 1G is provided a spring 35, which is for the purpose of acting as a guide to prevent the chain 17 from falling out of position when the bars are folded, as shown in Fi 5, and yet it will allow the sliding block 20 to pass either up or down when conveyed by the sprocket-chain 17. 'When the block 2O presses against the spring 35, ithas a tendency to move said spring inwardly against the bar, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 16, and when passed the tension of said spring forms its normal position, which is shown in Fig. 8 and by solid lines in Fig. 1G.

The spring 35 is made of suitable spring material and is formed with a plate 35, which is provided with screw-holes by which it is secured to the body of the bar and is preferably placedv beneath one wing of the hinge connecting the sections of said bar. The plate is terminated by an arm 35h, which is in alinement, but bent at right angles thereto, and is for the purpose as before stated.

Then the extension-frame is folded, the gear-wheels 23 and 2i become disconnected, as the cover being hinged to the upper ends of the extension-bars, and are placed in such position that when the extensiomframe is placed in its upright position the wheels on both sides will snugly mesh one with the other, which will then be in position to raise the compartments 2 and 3 in the position pas shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The compartments 2 and 3 are each provided with V-shaped stops30, which come in contact with a similar stop on the top of each compartment, thus preventing said compartments from being drawn out of one another.

The operation of our invention is as follows: When the device is in the form of a trunk, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and it is desired to extend the same to the wardrobe, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, we remove the tray 28 and then raise the cover out of the receptacle G, which will then draw upwardly the extensionbars 7. lVhen the extension-frame is in a vertical position, we lock the same by the use of a latch 34, and at the same time the projections 21 of the sliding block 2O find their lodgment in the openings 22 in the side of the receptacle. Then this is done, we operate the raising mechanism by means of the key 27, which operates the gear-wheels which propel the sprocket-wheels conveying the endless chain 17, drawing upon the sliding block 20,which raises the compartment 2, and when the stop 3G comes in contact with similar stops on top of the compartment 3 it raises said compartment 3 until its stop 3G comes in contact with a similar stop on the top of the compartment 4, thus preventing each member from becoming dislocated from one anotherand at the same time forming a suitable dust-proof joint. lVhen the compartments are formed in this position, we then operate the locking mechanism on the bottom of the cover by pulling upon the key 12, which is located in the top of the cover, which operates the bar 10 by means of the angular slot 11, causing the rods 13, which are secured to the bolts let, to press outwardly and communicate with the openings 15, formed in the top of the compartment. 2. XVe then place upon the top of the compartment 2 the tray 28 by inverting the same, so that its loops 29 also come in colnmunieation with the openings 15, through which also pass the bolts 14 of the locking mechanism. The drawers in this case are inverted from their position in the folded form, as shown in Fig. 3.

If desired, we may place around the joints of the meeting compartments a band, which may be of any suitable material, to act as a dust-guard and at the same time to protect the joints before mentioned.

XVe claim- 1. In a combined trunk and wardrobe composed of three sections arranged to telescope one within the other, a receptacle formed in the base of the lower section, an extensionframe hinged in said receptacle and provided with a lid, an operating mechanism carried by said lid, said operating mechanism conveying the sections to their adj usted positions, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a combined trunk and wardrobe composed of three sections arranged to telescope IOO IIO

'one within the other, a receptacle formed in the base of the lower section, an extensionframe located in said receptacle, said extension-frame composed of sectional bars hinged' together, a lid carried by said bars, an operating mechanism carried by said lid and bars, said operating mechanism conveying a sliding block which communicates with one of said sections for raising and lowering the same, a locking mechanism carried by said lid by which to lock said sections when in their raised position, substantially as shown and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a combined trunk and wardrobe composed of three sections arranged to telescope within one another, said sections provided with stops to prevent the same from becoming disconnected when raised, an extension- ALOIS KOHOUT. VACLAV ROUS.

Witnesses:

EDWARD E. LoNeAN, ALBERT J. MCCAULEY. 

